Prayer Intensity
Prayer Intensity
July 31, 2016 Daniel 9:1-19
Background to the Chapter Daniel 9:1-2
• “First year of Darius”
– 538 BC
– Occurs chronologically after chapter 5
– Babylonian empire was destroyed
– Kingdom of Medes & Persians was the world’s super power
• “Word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet”
– See Jeremiah 29:10
• 70 years
– Babylon’s first invasion of Jerusalem was in 605 BC when Daniel was taken prisoner
– It was now 67 years later
– Daniel would have been in his mid 80’s
– He knew God would regather His people to the homeland
Daniel’s Prayer Daniel 9:3-6
• Supplications
– Pleading for God’s mercy
• Fasting
– Voluntarily abstaining from food
• Sackcloth and ashes
– A coarse cloth made of goats hair and black in color
– A sign of mourning
• “LORD” (Yahweh)
– God’s covenant name with Israel
• “My God” (Elohim)
– The one true God who is Creator, King, Judge, Savior
– His character is loving, kind, compassionate, and just
• “O Lord” (Adonai)
– Master, Majestic
Daniel’s Confession Daniel 9:7-15
• Note the specificity
– “Have sinned”
• Missed the goal
– “Committed iniquity”
• Done wrong, perverse, depraved, corrupt
– “Acted wickedly”
• Violated the standard
– “Rebelled”
• Disobey, resist one in authority
– “Turning aside Your commandments”
• Deliberately ignoring
– “Not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name”
• “We have sinned against You”
– “To us belongs open shame”
• We deserved to be humbled before our enemies that we might be disciplined
• We knew the covenant God made with Israel in Deuteronomy 4:25-31
• “To the Lord our God belongs compassion and forgiveness”
– See Exodus 34:6-7
Daniel’s Pleas for Mercy Daniel 9:16-19
• “Let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away”
• “Let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary”
• “O my God, incline Your ear and hear!”
What does this mean for me?
• Use Daniel’s prayer as a model for you own prayers
– Get alone: intimacy flows from solitude
– Get focused: eliminate distractions
– Get confessional: be specific
– Get honest: stop pretending!
– Get real: be passionate
– Use Scripture
Prayer Intensity
July 31, 2016 Daniel 9:1-19
Background to the Chapter Daniel 9:1-2
• “First year of Darius”
– 538 BC
– Occurs chronologically after chapter 5
– Babylonian empire was destroyed
– Kingdom of Medes & Persians was the world’s super power
• “Word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet”
– See Jeremiah 29:10
• 70 years
– Babylon’s first invasion of Jerusalem was in 605 BC when Daniel was taken prisoner
– It was now 67 years later
– Daniel would have been in his mid 80’s
– He knew God would regather His people to the homeland
Daniel’s Prayer Daniel 9:3-6
• Supplications
– Pleading for God’s ______
• Fasting
– ______ abstaining from food
• Sackcloth and ashes
– A coarse cloth made of goats hair and black in color
– A sign of ______
• “LORD” (Yahweh)
– God’s covenant name with Israel
• “______ God” (Elohim)
– The one true God who is Creator, King, Judge, Savior
– His character is loving, kind, compassionate, and just
• “O Lord” (Adonai)
– Master, Majestic
Prayer Intensity
July 31, 2016 Daniel 9:1-19
Background to the Chapter Daniel 9:1-2
• “First year of Darius”
– 538 BC
– Occurs chronologically after chapter 5
– Babylonian empire was destroyed
– Kingdom of Medes & Persians was the world’s super power
• “Word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet”
– See Jeremiah 29:10
• 70 years
– Babylon’s first invasion of Jerusalem was in 605 BC when Daniel was taken prisoner
– It was now 67 years later
– Daniel would have been in his mid 80’s
– He knew God would regather His people to the homeland
Daniel’s Prayer Daniel 9:3-6
• Supplications
– Pleading for God’s ______
• Fasting
– ______ abstaining from food
• Sackcloth and ashes
– A coarse cloth made of goats hair and black in color
– A sign of ______
• “LORD” (Yahweh)
– God’s covenant name with Israel
• “______God” (Elohim)
– The one true God who is Creator, King, Judge, Savior
– His character is loving, kind, compassionate, and just
• “O Lord” (Adonai)
– Master, Majestic
Daniel’s Confession Daniel 9:7-15
• Note the specificity
– “Have sinned”
• Missed the goal
– “Committed iniquity”
• Done wrong, perverse, depraved, corrupt
– “Acted wickedly”
• Violated the standard
– “Rebelled”
• Disobey, resist one in authority
– “Turning aside Your commandments”
• Deliberately ignoring
– “Not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name”
• “We have sinned against You”
– “To us belongs open shame”
• We deserved to be humbled before our enemies that we might be disciplined
• We knew the covenant God made with Israel in Deuteronomy 4:25-31
• “To the Lord our God belongs compassion and forgiveness”
– See Exodus 34:6-7
Daniel’s Pleas for Mercy Daniel 9:16-19
• “Let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away”
• “Let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary”
• “O my God, incline Your ear and hear!”
What does this mean for me?
• Use Daniel’s prayer as a model for you own prayers
– Get alone: ______
– Get focused: ______
– Get confessional: ______
– Get honest: ______
– Get real: ______
– Use ______
Daniel’s Confession Daniel 9:7-15
• Note the specificity
– “Have sinned”
• Missed the goal
– “Committed iniquity”
• Done wrong, perverse, depraved, corrupt
– “Acted wickedly”
• Violated the standard
– “Rebelled”
• Disobey, resist one in authority
– “Turning aside Your commandments”
• Deliberately ignoring
– “Not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name”
• “We have sinned against You”
– “To us belongs open shame”
• We deserved to be humbled before our enemies that we might be disciplined
• We knew the covenant God made with Israel in Deuteronomy 4:25-31
• “To the Lord our God belongs compassion and forgiveness”
– See Exodus 34:6-7
Daniel’s Pleas for Mercy Daniel 9:16-19
• “Let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away”
• “Let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary”
• “O my God, incline Your ear and hear!”
What does this mean for me?
• Use Daniel’s prayer as a model for you own prayers
– Get alone: ______
– Get focused: ______
– Get confessional: ______
– Get honest: ______
– Get real: ______
– Use ______